FW: Chicago – Soulful Sunday

Dr. Derse was featured in FW: Chicago’s Soulful Sunday section in January describing how she maintains balance in her busy life. See below:

Veterinary Housecall Care

The busy veternarian talks about her favorite ways to add balance in her life when she’s not taking care of our four-legged family members all over the city of Chicago.

Any pet owner will tell you that, when their little furball gets sick or passes, it’s as though it is happening to a member of the family. So, thank goodness for people like Jami-Lyn Derse who are there to keep our four-legged friends in tip-top shape. The DVM is the founder of Veterinary Housecall Care, a comprehensive home-visit vet service that provides personalized and compassionate care for pets in the Chicago area. In addition to her housecall practice, Dr. Derse is an emergency and critical care doctor at specialty and emergency animal hospitals in the city and the northern suburbs. The good doctor lives in the northern suburbs with her husband (also a vet, aww!), daughter, German Short-haired Pointer Emma, Golden Retriever Birdie, and two tabby cats—Brinley and Socks.

How she unwinds: 

  1. Yoga 3 three times a week.
  2. Walks with my 2 year-old daughter. Me walking, her in a stroller. We sing together and laugh. Love Is an Open Door is very popular right now.
  3. Talking to friends on the phone.
  4. Reading upbeat or comical fiction books. Although many of my patients are happy and healthy, I see many that are sick and/or terminally ill. Therefore, I do not need to read anything sad or depressing.
  5. Painting

Balance tip:

“On a daily basis, write down specific things you are grateful for. It can vary from simple things such as new shoes or waterproof mascara, up to more important things like health and family. I find this simple task makes me feel good as well as appreciative for the things I have, rather than dwelling too much on work.”